Real Talk: Miss Representation
10:35:00 AM
The need for diversity in YA is important and real, and the more people that recognize the need for it, the more likely we are to see a shift in patterns sooner rather than later.
Trust me. I know I am probably
preaching to the choir here. I know how many discussion posts there are in the
blogosphere that cry out for a need for more diversity. But I figure, the more
voices there are calling attention to an important issue, the more minds we are
likely to change. So here’s my two cents on the subject.
Growing up, I was obsessed with
Disney princesses like most little girls often are. My favorite was Ariel for a
long time, because she was a mermaid and that alone was the only reason I liked
her so much. But then there was a phase I went through when I would watch The Hunchback of Notre Dame nonstop, and
for one reason only: Esmeralda. You see, I’m Hispanic and never had anyone else
to look up to who was Hispanic who wasn’t my mom or my abuela. Because of this,
for whatever reason, I assumed Esmeralda was Latina. It was probably the fact
that her hair was dark and thick and curly and that she was of a darker
complexion than the other Disney princesses. (I was also maybe three years old
at the time and only knew the languages of English and Spanish, very naively
assuming those were the only two languages in existence… completely oblivious
to any of the historical or cultural background to Hunchback whatsoever. Romani like Esmeralda were of Romanian background,
certainly not Spanish.)
My point to this long-winded
anecdote from my childhood is that children and young, impressionable pre-teens
(and even teenagers, too) will always look for themselves in whatever they are
watching and reading. Whether consciously or subconsciously, it’s just human
nature to look for similarities in others when we want to associate with them.
So when kids only see pretty, fair skinned, slim people represented in popular
media, it doesn’t do much to bolster their sense of self-esteem or belonging. To
totally quote the Grisha books and one of my favorite ever characters, Baghra:
Like calls to like. We seek out similarities in those we want to be like or the
people we want to surround ourselves with. It’s basic psychology, and inhibiting
that will only lead to discouragement.
It discourages us to be who we are,
because it ostracizes us. It discourages us to express our culture and
diversity, pushing it to the side instead of celebrating that which makes us
different. It tells younger kids of color that their skin is not worthy of
praise and beauty, that their culture is a joke, that their traditions and
heritage are no longer relevant in the broad scope of history. Whitewashing in
popular media is evident everywhere, no matter where you turn there will always
be someone prettier, lighter, skinnier, more different than you are. And I have seen that play into books a lot
recently.
What makes me happy is the fact
that diversity is on the rise in YA. What makes me sad, however, is how little
there is right now. When the biggest books-turned-movies consistently cast
white actors and actresses to fill roles and replace background POC, it sends
the message that we are not enough for the general masses to accept. Are we
really that different that we must be ashamed of our appearances, that we are
overshadowed in favor of bigger names? To what end, profit? Look at movies like
The Force Awakens and tell me a diverse cast won’t make money. Now look at
movies like The 5th Wave and tell me why casting an Apache and
Chinese girl, Ringer, as a white, blonde girl was necessary.
Where is the love for black girls
with natural, nappy hair and beautiful melanin-rich skin? Where is the love for
Hispanic girls with backgrounds ranging from Mexican to Venezuelan to Puerto
Rican to Dominican, with bigger hips and a language unique to each background?
Where is the love for Asian girls from China, Japan, Korea, India, and their fiery
spirit, their midnight black hair, their eyes that always smile? Where is the
love for main characters of mixed race, rather than secondary characters just
added to increase the cast’s diversity?
We are not a minority because we
are small in numbers. We are called a minority because the majority is the race
that has, by definition, gained the upper hand. There needs to be a bigger call
for diversity in YA because the audience is widely comprised of young girls.
Young girls – and boys, too – need to see themselves represented and fitting
into a setting that shows them “look, you are equally as capable as being the
hero as any other person is.”
We are all different, and that’s
what makes us special. That makes us capable of being our own heroes.
8 comments
Gosh yes! I agree and this post is so beautiful and everyone needs to read this absolutely :') Because the world is filled with all kinds of cultures, races, and people - and I'm so tired to see books that leave them behind or put them as secondary characters? And yes to all those book-to-movie adaptations that change POC characters to white ones.
ReplyDeleteMore Mexican/Latina girls in books will be my dream come true. I have seen some 2016 books that will come out and they have them and it's wonderful. We need more diversity because kids and teens and adults need to be represented and not erase them like they don't exist.
Sil @ The Book Voyagers
So happy you enjoyed Sil! I agree, more Latina and Latino representation is very necessary. Diversity doesn't just mean black people, that's duality. There is a whole world out there of other cultures and backgrounds!
DeleteTHIS POST. WONDERFUL.
ReplyDeleteWe should all think of that. We NEED diversity in YA. For example, less white blonde girls with blue or green eyes, amazing and perfect, but more of other races. I think if we really apply diversity in books these books will be more realistic... I mean, it'll will be more of a reflection of the real life.
Right? Exactly! Even if it's a paranormal story, art always imitates life.
DeleteI love this, especially that little anecdote. I agree with you on a spiritual level girl. The media is STILL constantly white-washing characters and it's absolutely appalling to see. There really is no excuse for it, and the sooner they realize it, the better. There is NEVER too many posts and campaigns for diversity. More people need to raise their voices on their issue so oUR CRIES WILL DRAIN OUT ALL THE WHITE WASHING GOING ON. *WAR CRY*
ReplyDelete- Aila @ One Way Or An Author
Throwback to that one time we got twitter hate for having a conversation about diversity... *WAR CRY INDEED*
Deletethis post is all kinds of fantastic. i really don't have much in response except YES YES YES. i'm really happy diversity is getting more recognition in YA, but, like you said, it's still not enough. these types of things do take time for change, so i hope in the next few years diverse characters will be a norm. wonderful discussion, gee!! xxx alexandra @ twirling pages
ReplyDeleteWow. I just... Wow. No words. PREACH, GIRL. *raises palms up*
ReplyDelete